Congratulations to Kate Ryan on winning the inaugural Writers Prize in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015. The judges commented, “Kate Ryan’s entered essay, ‘Psychotherapy for Normal People’, is a powerful and engaging work and account of the psychotherapeutic process by an accomplished Victorian writer.” In addition, Kate, also an author of fiction and children’s picture books, received the inaugural Melbourne Prize Residency. melbourneprize.org

Ros Moriarty (author of the memoir Listening to Country, and many children’s picture books) has won the Business Enterprise category of the 2015 Financial Review/Westpac ‘100 Women of Influence’ Awards. See her thoughts here: linkedin.com/pulse/power-influence-ros-moriarty

Rebecca Johnson (author of the popular children’s fiction series JULIET, NEARLY A VET) has received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools. Rebecca, a school science specialist teacher, has published over 80 books on Australian birds and animals. rebeccajohnson.com.au

Dr Mark Cross, known for the ABC TV series Changing Minds, has been selected to receive the Meritorious Service Award recipient from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ (RANZCP)’s NSW Branch Committee. ‘The creation of the Changing Minds television series was a great moment for mental health care in New South Wales,’ said Dr Gary Galambos, Branch Chair. This Award is given annually to an individual or organisation who has made a significant sustained contribution to the practice of psychiatry and to the improvement of mental health in New South Wales. The second series of Changing Minds, which focuses on young people, is being broadcast as part of ABC TV’s Mental As week, and the book, Changing Minds: A Go-To Guide for Mental Health, will be published in early 2016.

Jane Harper won the 2015 Victorian Premier’s Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. Her atmospheric novel The Dry has now been acquired in a multi-book deal by Pan Macmillan, and by Little, Brown in the UK and Flatiron in the US, with foreign rights sales to 11 territories so far.

Publisher Michael Heyward said ‘The Book of Whispers is a heart-stopping adventure ride through a world populated by demons, both real and figurative. It’s about goodness and doing right and, above all, love. Every fan of historical fantasy will want to get their hands on this novel. We look forward to publishing it.’ Congratulations, Kimberley!